Ronnie Barnes has served as Head Athletic Trainer of the New York Giants since 1980 and Senior Vice President of Medical Services since 2014. A former Giants student intern and Michigan State University Athletic Trainer, Barnes has served on numerous committees, both for the NATA and NFL. Barnes was the first African American graduate of the Sports Medicine Department at his alma mater, East Carolina University and was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious awards an athletic trainer can receive He is currently a member of the NFL Head Neck and Spine Committee, NFL Foot and Ankle Committee, and Liaison to the NFL Equipment Managers Meeting. Ronnie has served on the NFL Player Care Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2022.

Dr. Tricia Bent-Goodley Ph.D., LICSW, LCSW-C currently serves as Team Clinician for the Baltimore Ravens. In this role, Tricia provides counseling, clinical care, crisis management, and intervention in mental health emergencies to players, coaches, significant others, and family members. She is also a member of the NFL Team Clinician Advisory Board. Tricia is a Professor Emeritus at Howard University School of Social Work and a Graduate Professor of Public Health in the Howard University Graduate School where she served as Founding Director of the Howard University Interpersonal Violence Prevention Program. Tricia received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and her Ph.D. from Columbia University. Dr. Tricia has served on the NFL Player Care Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2022.

Andre played in the NFL for 10 years including starting in Super Bowl XXVI for the Washington Redskins. He currently serves as the NFLPA Director of Former Players Services and Executive Director of the Professional Athletes Foundation, helping players transition out of the game. He is responsible for managing a department that services the League’s former players, creating a sense of community, compassion and opportunity working with 38 former players’ chapters across the country. Andre’s personal experiences after leaving the game and a desire to make the transition smoother for retirees is his driving force on the board.

Carlie Irsay-Gordon is in currently in her 11^th season as Vice Chair/Owner of the Indianapolis Colts. Raised in and around the organization, Carlie interned with the club’s Football Operations and Marketing departments while pursuing her undergraduate degree at Skidmore College. She has represented the Colts at NFL Owners’ Meetings since 2004 and is involved in all aspects of the organization, specifically in directing the team’s growing digital, social media, content, and production operations. Carlie is a member of the NFL’s Media Owned & Operated Committee, which oversees the NFL Network, NFL.com, NFL Mobile and other league-owned media properties. She also serves on the boards of Visit Indy, Park Tudor School, and co-chair of the Indy Championships Fund. Carlie has served on the NFL Player Care Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2022.

 Aditi Kinkhabwala is an NFL sideline reporter and full-year contributor at CBS, as well as a regular panelist on the network’s all-female studio sports show, WE NEED TO TALK. From 2012-2022, she served as a national correspondent at the NFL Network, appearing on their full gamut of shows and also writing for NFL.com. She co-hosted the “NFL explained” podcast, taking fans behind-the-scenes and into the inner workings of the NFL. Prior to joining NFL Network, Kinkhabwala spent two years covering the NFL at The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of Cornell, Aditi began her career writing about high school football and basketball at the San Antonio Express-News, before covering college football and basketball at The Record in New Jersey.

Ozzie played in the NFL for 13 seasons and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has spent an additional 26 years holding various executive positions in the NFL. Since 2002 he has been the General Manager of the Baltimore Ravens, the first African-American to occupy this position in League history. Ozzie has experienced many great NFL moments, but it is the day to day, being in touch with the players that he most enjoys. His PCF board position gives him the opportunity to help the many great men who paved the way for today’s game.

Will Shields was drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs, and in his illustrious 14-season career, never missed a game and set franchise marks with 224 games played and 223 starts. Will earned his first Pro Bowl berth following the 1995 season and embarked on a string of 12 straight AFC-NFC Pro Bowl berths that ran through the end of his career. He is a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, and in 1999, joined Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Thomas as the only active players to be named to the Chiefs’ 40th Anniversary Team. In 2011, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and three years later was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2003 Shields was the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, for his work in The "Will to Succeed" Foundation, the charitable organization he started in 1993. Will has served on the NFL Player Care Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2022.

Al Smith is a former All-Pro National Football League player, executive, author, and speaker with over 25 years of leadership experience in sports, business, broadcasting, and community service.

A collegiate standout, Smith was inducted into the Utah State Athletic Hall of Fame and selected for the State of Utah’s All-Century Team. In 1987, he was drafted by the Houston Oilers, where some of his NFL career highlights include multiple Pro Bowl selections and First Team All-Pro Honors.

Currently, Al serves on the Board of Directors for the NFL Alumni Association, the American Cancer Society, and Ambassador to the NFL’s Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative.

Harold R. Henderson served as NFL Executive Vice President for Labor Relations and Chairman of the NFL Management Council Executive Committee for sixteen years. In 2007 Mr. Henderson focused on Player Development programs; drug, alcohol, steroid and conduct policies; and benefits for current and former players. He has been President of the Player Care Foundation since its creation, and he has continued in that role after his retirement from the NFL in 2012.

Paul attended the University of Illinois and was a reserve quarterback on the Fighting Illini Football Team from 2005-2007 prior to transferring to Northern Illinois University where he was also a member of the football team and graduated in 2008 (B.A in Media Studies). Following his undergraduate degree, Paul attended the University of Wisconsin Law School, graduating in 2012 with a concentration in Labor & Employment Law and is currently a part-time MBA student at New York University specializing in Healthcare. Paul’s career has been focused on labor relations having worked in various roles for John Deere; University of California, San Diego; NBCUniversal and his current role as Associate Counsel, Labor Relations for the National Football League where he primarily focuses on issues related to player benefit plans and retired player programs.

At the NFL, Paul serves as the co-Chair for NFL Community Teammates, an employee interest group that plans and promotes community service outings for employees at the New York office. Outside of work, Paul is also active in the community, serving as a mentor for high school students through SEO Scholars and as a hospice patient volunteer through Calvary Hospice. In his free time, Paul enjoys training for triathlons and will complete his 6th full length Ironman later this fall.

Andrew Jo is a Senior Manager of Retired Player Programs at the National Football League. In this role Andrew manages incoming player cases for the NFL Player Care Foundation and provides support to former NFL players in the areas of post career resources, financial assistance, and mental health and wellness. In addition to case management, Andrew evaluates all PCF grant requests to ensure grant making is ethical, transparent, and compliant with the Foundation’s bylaws, manages PCF’s annual operating budget, and all financial reporting for the Foundation. Since 2019, Andrew has served as the inaugural Chairperson for the NFL’s Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) Employee Resource Group where he works to promote the integration of DEI initiatives into the NFL business plan, focus groups and educational/cultural awareness trainings. Prior to his work at the NFL, Andrew was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Republic of Zambia where he worked alongside the Zambian Ministry of Education on strengthening its radio education and open & distance learning initiatives.

As Deputy General Counsel of Labor for the National Football League, Larry oversees the NFL Management Council, which is responsible for negotiating and administering the league’s collective bargaining agreements with its players and game officials. Larry was one of the lead negotiators of the 2019 NFL-NFLRA and 2020 NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreements. These agreements govern every facet of the players’ and game officials’ employment relationship with the 32-member clubs of the NFL and the league, including compensation, work rules, and discipline. 

Larry is also responsible for ensuring teams’ compliance with the NFL Salary Cap and administering the NFL’s player benefit programs, which have more than $9 billion in assets under management, in conjunction with the NFL Players Association. Prior to joining the NFL, Larry served as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York and was a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assigned to the New York office.  He started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, New York.  Larry is a graduate of Syracuse University and Suffolk Law School.

Brendan Wilson is a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath, where he serves as a member of the firm’s tax-exempt organizations practice group. In that role, Mr. Wilson counsels charities, private foundations and associations on tax and corporate law matters. He has worked with the NFL Player Care Foundation since its founding in 2007 and has been a member of its Scholarship Committee since 2016, helping former NFL players pursue various post-graduate educational opportunities.

Valon Alford is a Clinical Coordinator with the NFL Player Care Foundation. In this role, Valon assists former players who have separated from the game in addressing critical transition areas, including: physical health, money management, and employment. As a clinical social worker, Valon adds mental health expertise to the psychosocial factors involved with case management. Prior to joining PCF, Valon worked as a Clinical Social Worker with the Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency. Valon has provided psychotherapy, behaviorally-based case planning, and court supervised case management services to children and families, as well as military beneficiaries during various stages of transition.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Laura Camila is a Strategic Communications expert, interweaving multicultural marketing and social change in her roles as an award-winning Latina leader. She is recognized for her skills in operational process design, event planning, and community engagement, with certifications in change leadership, relationship management, and omnichannel marketing. Through initiatives and board roles at organizations such as ALPFA, United Latinas, Young Nonprofits Professional Network, and others, Laura works to advance equity and inclusion by empowering underrepresented communities through leadership development, bridging opportunity gaps, and advocacy for social change. She has been recognized for her leadership on El Mundo Boston’s Latino 30 Under 30 and Amplify Latinx's ALX100 Most Influential Latinxs List, amongst other recognitions. Her writing was featured in Extraordinary Latinas Vol III, a collection of stories highlighting Latina leaders. Today, Laura is pursuing a Master of Policy Management at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy through the National Urban Fellows program, blending her passion for implementation with her commitment to social equity.

Gabbie Brown graduated from Penn State University and later pursued a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Baruch College. While completing her Master's, she participated in the National Urban Fellows program and served as the Director of Community Advancement at Chica Project, a non-profit organization that focuses on bridging the opportunity divide for young women of color. Following the completion of her fellowship, Gabbie returned to her family's law firm, Brown Law, LLC, as Operations Manager. During her tenure, she implemented operational strategies that enhanced efficiency and enabled the practice to continue operating during the pandemic. For the past three years, Gabbie has been working as the Coordinator, Collectively Bargained Player Benefits at the National Football League, where she has been responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of all Player Benefits.

In his role as a coordinator, A.J. spearheads Career Portal expansion efforts, assists with the planning and execution of career fairs and ultimately helps improve the quality of life of retired NFL players through sustainable career opportunities. While working at PCF, A.J. is a member of the Racial Equity Committee (REC) and resides in Orlando, Florida, where he is pursuing his Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master’s in Sports Business Management (MSBM) at the University of Central Florida. At UCF, A.J. also serves as a lead graduate assistant for Dr. Richard Lapchick at The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) – where he leads efforts on Racial and Gender Report Cards for various professional leagues, including the NFL. Before PCF, the Iowa-native and oldest of four received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa prior to relocating to Washington, DC, for an internship with The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA).

Nakia Griffin-Stewart is an Operations Coordinator for the NFL Player Care Foundation. A New Jersey native, Nakia is a Rutgers University and University of Pittsburgh alum who played Tight End in the NFL for six teams – Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts – over the course of three seasons.

Prior to working at PCF, Nakia spent time working with Salvation Army’s Homelessness Rescue Program, University of Pittsburgh Football, New Jersey State Police Special Operation Unit K9 Division, and is the owner of NGS Real Estate, a real estate company focused on helping NFL players, personnel, and staff find in-season and off-season housing.

In his free time, Nakia enjoys giving back to his community by participating in annual youth football camps, holiday charity drives, children hospital visits, and speaking at schools and youth detention centers.

Dana Lihan is the NFL Player Care Foundation's Program Director. In this role, Dana provides direction on all PCF programs. Dana helps all former players at any point in their post-NFL life by developing an individualized case management process. Dana participates in programs ranging from career transition, financial assistance and health and wellness, including coordinating neurological exams and connecting them with many of PCF's former NFL player partners. She directs the PCF Healthy Body and Mind Screening Program, its national cardiovascular and prostate screening program that also offers mental health resources and education free of charge to all former players. Prior to joining PCF Dana directed the activities of the NFL Alumni's Dire Need Charitable Trust, and since 2001 has worked as a Certified Child Advocate with the Guardian ad Litem Program, which provides legal support for abused, abandoned and neglected children in foster care.

Nate Recknagel is currently the Clinical and Research Director for the Player Care Foundation. Nate's prior experience as a Clinical Social Worker allows him to effectively serve as a liaison between former players and social service providers, with the goal of satisfying the emotional, financial, health, employment, and all other needs of former players. Nate provides direction on all Clinical PCF Programs, which includes PCF’s Mental Health Screening Program, clinical research, and clinical treatment partnerships. In the past, Nate served as a Mental Health Clinician with the Psychiatric Emergency Services in the University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry and as a Medical Social Worker at Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. Prior to becoming a social worker, Nate played baseball at the University of Michigan and with the Cleveland Indians organization.

Gerald Smith is a Coordinator on the Player Benefits team at the National Football League. In his role, Gerald works to ensure that incoming, current, and former players and their families are supported in several off-the-field capacities, including but not limited to working on the management and administration of their collectively-bargained benefits. Prior to joining the Player Benefits team in 2024, Gerald worked as a member of the Social Responsibility team at the National Football League for three seasons. Gerald is a proud graduate of Babson College, where he studied Business Administration and was actively involved in several service-based organizations. During his time at Babson, he was a peer-leader, serving as a mentor for incoming freshman, and sat on a number of Executive Boards in the Babson and Greater Boston Community.

Renee Sturm serves as Clinical & Research Coordinator after her previous role as Clinical Social Work Intern. She joins PCF after graduating from the University of Michigan’s Master of Social Work Program in July 2023. Renee earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Systems Administration from Ferris State University where she also played Women’s Basketball for four years. Her background in competitive athletics has aided in her success at PCF where she works closely with NFL Legends as a case manager supporting new program development, working with data analytics, and attending Healthy Body & Mind Screenings. Among Renee’s notable accomplishments since joining PCF are the development of an accessible online NFL Service Providers’ Resource Guide, the implementation of a new Player Dashboard to increase accessibility of the grant application process, and drafted a proposal that seeks to further PCF's use of data to better serve NFL Legends.